Fatah was born to parents who migrated from Bombay to Karachi a month after Independence. He called himself an “Indian born in Pakistan, a Punjabi born in Islam; an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim consciousness, grounded in a Marxist youth.”
Pakistani-Canadian journalist, Tarek Fatah, a self-described “Midnight’s Child”, born on November 20, 1949 in Karachi, known for his caustic criticisms of Islamic extremism and the Pakistani establishment, celebrated advocate of queer rights, frequent tweeter of misinformation during 2020’s anti-CAA protests, died today of cancer, confirmed his daughter on social media. Fatah was 73.
Tributes poured in on Twitter. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale wrote, “Tarek Fatah was an eminent thinker, author and commentator. His significant contributions to the media and the literary world will be greatly remembered. He remained committed to his principles and beliefs throughout his life and was respected for his courage and conviction.” Actor Anupam Kher wrote, “Deeply saddened to know about the demise of my friend, a true Indian at heart, a most fearless and kind-hearted man. [Tarek Fatah’s] courage was infectious!” Director Vivek Agnihotri wrote, “There was one and only Tarek Fatah — daring, funny, knowledgeable, a sharp thinker, a great orator and a fearless fighter. Tarek, my brother, it was a delight to have you as a close friend.”
Fatah was born to parents who migrated from Bombay to Karachi a month after Independence. He called himself an “Indian born in Pakistan, a Punjabi born in Islam; an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim consciousness, grounded in a Marxist youth.” He studied biochemistry in University of Karachi, was a vigorous leftist activist in college, and graduated before shifting gears to journalism — a career that earned him laurels and brickbats. He joined Karachi Sun as a reporter in 1970 and later became an investigative reporter with Pakistan’s state-broadcaster Pakistan Television. In 1977, the Zia-ul Haq government charged him with sedition, after which he migrated to Saudi Arabia and finally settled in Canada in 1987. There, he joined Toronto radio station CFRB Newstalk 1010 as a broadcaster and, after multiple stints across Canada’s media landscape, later became a columnist for Toronto Sun.
Fatah’s politics were controversial. He lamented the Partition and questioned the Pakistani military’s influence over the government, and was outspoken against Islamic extremism. He criticised American funding of terrorist groups in Saudi Arabia during the Afghan war, while supporting both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders for the 2016 presidential race; recommending immigration curbs for countries harbouring Islamic terrorists.